Team movements

The team celebrated the promotions of Kelly Fraser (Special Counsel, Brisbane), Isabelle Gatley (Senior Associate, Adelaide), Natalie Miller (Senior Associate, Sydney), Jimmy Taing (Senior Associate, Sydney), and Ben Tollner-Atkinson (Senior Associate, Adelaide) throughout 2022.

We welcomed Meriel Steadman (Partner) and Roselina Kruize (Senior Associate) in our Perth office; Judith Hishon (Special Counsel), Emma Baker (Senior Associate), and Neha Pillalamarri (Senior Associate) in our Brisbane office; and Tanaya Patel (Associate) and Piyush Bohara (Associate) in our Sydney office. Additionally, we welcomed 12 Law Clerks and 6 Lawyers across the country. The National team has certainly seen substantial growth in our numbers, and we are excited to see our team continue to deliver excellent service to our fantastic clients.

Significant matters

Throughout the year, we continued to represent and advise our clients, across various industries and dispute types, including:

Queensland Energy Class Action (LCM Finance)

Currently acting on the largest energy class action in Australian history. The claim is being brought against Stanwell Corporation Limited and CS Energy Limited on behalf of all electricity consumers in Queensland (roughly 1.7 million residential and 440,000 business consumers).

Zoetis

Continuing to act for Zoetis Australia defending a $53 million class action brought by the owners of horses which were administered with the Hendra Virus vaccine developed by Zoetis, who allege the horses suffered side effects from the vaccine.

AMP Class Action (Woodsford Litigation Funding)

Acting in a $200m class action against a number of AMP Limited financial advice licensees in which it is claimed that the respondents received conflicted remuneration (including commissions), recommended certain insurance products which attracted excess premiums, and failed to provide any or adequate personal advice with respect to certain financial and insurance products.

Quintis Limited Class Action (LCM Finance)

Representing the lead applicants in a Federal Court securities class action in relation to the collapse of Quintis Limited the world's largest commercial sandalwood operation. The action involves allegations of Corporations Act contraventions, misleading and deceptive conduct and auditor negligence. The claim is brought against Quintis Limited, its former managing director and CEO, Mr Frank Wilson and Ernst & Young.

Count Financial Class Action (Woodsford Litigation Funding)

Acting in a class action against former CBA subsidiary, Count Financial Ltd (Count), in respect of allegations that Count and its financial advisers contravened best interests and priority obligations owed to customers when taking grandfathered commissions on products that they recommended to their customers.

Bogasi Pty Ltd

Representing a trustee company (Bogasi Pty Ltd) in relation to proceedings concerning the beneficial ownership of significant trust assets. The claim relates, amongst other things, to the construction of a Will of the late patriarch of the Sundell family. The assets in dispute are in the order of more than $50 million.

Maxi EFX Global

Acting in relation to $50 million Federal Court Proceedings brought by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) in relation to alleged breaches of the Corporations Act and Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act by Maxi EFX Global in the conduct of Forex and CFD trading.

Ushant Pty Ltd & Ors

Acting for all ten defendants, including Ushant Pty Ltd in Victorian Supreme Court Commercial Court proceedings relating to the sale of a series of retail businesses and properties forming part of the Peter Stevens Group. The claim involves breach of contract allegations against our clients and the plaintiffs amongst other things, seek specific performance of a Share Sale Agreement and damages in lieu thereof. Piper Alderman is instrumental in raising the initial pleading issues and preparing Defence.

Recognition

This year, we have had some outstanding recognition – both for the team and our individuals – across our national dispute resolution & litigation practice team. We are grateful for our clients and colleagues and are looking forward to another successful year in 2023.

The Legal 500 Asia Pacific

In the 2022 edition of The Legal 500 Asia Pacific, Piper Alderman was recognised across 12 areas of law including Dispute Resolution. A number of our team members were highlighted as recommended or key lawyers for this category, including:

The Best Lawyers in Australia

In the 2023 edition of The Best Lawyers in Australia, 52 of Piper Alderman's lawyers are recognised across 42 legal areas including the following partners in our Dispute Resolution & Litigation team:

  • Tony Abbott: Litigation, Trade Law, Alternative Dispute Resolution
  • Nick Burkett: Insurance Law, Ethics and Professional Responsibility Practice, Legal Malpractice Litigation
  • Anne Freeman: Alternative Dispute Resolution
  • Louise Gehrig: Insolvency and Reorganization Law
  • Tom Griffith: Alternative Dispute Resolution
  • Simon Ward: Defamation and Media Law, Litigation
  • Greg Whyte: Insurance Law, Legal Malpractice Litigation, Litigation
  • James Nunn: Alternative Dispute Resolution & Litigation – One to Watch
  • Kate Sambrook: Alternative Dispute Resolution – One to Watch
  • Hannah Veldre: Alternative Dispute Resolution & Litigation – One to Watch
  • Timothy Ward: Alternative Dispute Resolution – One to Watch
  • Beau Weigand: Alternative Dispute Resolution & Litigation – One to Watch

We were also delighted to receive some very kind feedback from clients and contacts during the research process for the legal directories, including:

'Martin del Gallego is very user friendly. He is a good strategic thinker, calm and capable.' (Legal 500 Asia-Pacific, 2022)

'Anne Freeman is second to none in client service. Goes above and beyond to maintain the highest quality of legal services and strives for the best outcome. Excellent communication skills, strong leadership and good to work with.' (Legal 500 Asia-Pacific, 2022)

'Ian Nathaniel is an approachable and thoughtful lawyer. He is strategic in outlook and practical in approach.' (Legal 500 Asia-Pacific, 2022)

'Piper Alderman's class action team has breadth and depth and covers multiple AU jurisdictions. This makes it a "one stop shop" and obvious go to for funded class actions.' (Legal 500 Asia-Pacific, 2022)

Business Development

The Dispute Resolution & Litigation team actively produced and published a number of timely insights while partaking in a multitude of client and industry facing events, sponsorships, and partnerships. Our team was also involved in producing some memorable content for clients and have a fantastic line-up of content for 2023 in the works.